Thursday, February 25, 2016

The 2015/2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans identified potassium, dietary fiber, choline, magnesium, calcium, and vitamins A, D, E, and C as shortfall nutrients. That is, nutrients that are consumed by many individuals in amounts below the Estimated Average Requirement or Adequate Intake levels. More specifically, the guidelines identified calcium, potassium, dietary fiber, and vitamin D as “nutrients of public health concern because low intakes are associated with health concerns,” and suggested supplementing with vitamin D, “especially when sunshine exposure is limited due to climate or the use of sunscreen.”

While the current formulation of the guidelines is big step up for the official recognition of the importance of dietary supplements, especially those supplying significant levels of essential nutrients. The issue for other important nutrients, specifically the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA is a little less clear cut. The guidelines addressed EPA and DHA specifically in a section discussing targets for the consumption of seafood. Americans in general fall woefully short of what is considered healthful intake levels.

Friday, February 05, 2016

Great DecisionDecreasing the amount of caloric beverages consumed and simultaneously increasing water consumption is important to promoting child health and decreasing the prevalence of childhood obesity.New York public schools installed filtered water jets and found an association in decreased student weight. Reduced milk and chocolate milk purchases purchases were one of the reasons why. The research appeared in last month's JAMA Pediatrics.Horrific DecisionEFSA, which is the FDA of Europe, approved the artificial sweetener sucralose for infant medical foods, as well as for foods and beverages in children aged one to three.